Men's Hockey | 10/5/2016 5:16:00 PM
Off the Hop: Minnesota State (0-0-0 overall, 0-0-0 WCHA) hosts Michigan Tech (0-2-0) in home WCHA action this weekend in the first games of 2016-17 for the Mavericks. The Mavericks and MTU play in Mankato at Verizon Wireless Center (4,832) Friday (7:07 p.m.) and Saturday (7:07 p.m.).
About the MSU-MTU Series: In a series that dates back to the 1996-97 season, The Mavericks and the Huskies have played 56 times and the all-time series stands 32-17-7 in favor of Minnesota State. The Mavericks have gone 7-1-3 in the last 11 meetings between the two schools. The Mavericks have not lost to MTU in Mankato since 2011-12 and own a 4-0-2 in the last six meetings with the Huskies in games played in Verizon Wireless Center.
MSU Most Recently: The Mavericks hosted the University of Regina (Sask.) in exhibition action Saturday and came away with a 5-3 win. Junior forward Brad McClure scored twice to pace the Mavericks in the victory over the Cougars. Minnesota State received single tallies from junior Zeb Knutson, senior Jordan Nelson and freshman Marc Michaelis in the win over the visiting Cougars. Minnesota State, which outshot Regina by a 41-20 margin, now stands 12-3-0 all-time in games vs. Canadian teams.
MTU Most Recently: The Huskies opened the 2016-17 campaign with a pair of nonconference road losses to fifth-rated Minnesota Duluth. Tech, which fell by 6-0 and 4-3 scores to UMD, is led by head coach Mel Pearson (stands 95-79-22 as a college head coach and is in his sixth year as head coach at Michigan Tech).
MSU All-Time: The Minnesota State men's hockey program, begun in 1969-70, completed its 47th year of competition last year. The Mavericks are in their 21st year as members of NCAA Division I and in their 18th season as members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. The Mavericks sport an all-time record of 836-622-148 (.567).
Noteables: Along with senior defenseman Carter Foguth, who is in his second season as a team captain for the Mavericks, junior forward C.J. Franklin will also wear a "C" for Minnesota State this year. Serving as alternate captains (all in their first year) are senior forward Michael Huntebrinker, senior defenseman Sean Flanagan and junior forward Brad McClure.
The Mavericks are 20-23-4 all-time in season-opening contests.
C.J. Franklin is Minnesota State's active career scoring leader with 23-30--53 points in 78 games played.
At 110 games played, senior defenseman Carter Foguth is Minnesota State's active career games played leaders. Senior forward Zach Stepan is next at 103 and senior defenseman Sean Flanagan ranks third at 101.
On Tap: The Mavericks continue home action next weekend St. Cloud State visiting Mankato for a pair of nonconference games Friday and Saturday.
